Battery and charging system experts please chime in

[killcrap]

Originally Posted by generx

All connections were checked and free of corrosion. Alternator was replaced in January of this year.



I replaced it with a brand new Bosch alternator made in the USA with a lifetime warranty. There was just no way I was going to go with OEM which went bad at 50K miles (the OEM one was bench tested and failed all 3 tests)



Tensioner/belts are all good. I may have to pull the new alternator again and get it bench tested just for peace of mind.

i would of just went with the OEM alternator. it carries a lifetime warranty and if it failes within the first 2 years, then the labor is covered. after that you can just exchange the part over the counter.

[generx]

Originally Posted by killcrap

i would of just went with the OEM alternator. it carries a lifetime warranty and if it failes within the first 2 years, then the labor is covered. after that you can just exchange the part over the counter.

Not too worried about the labor cost since the alternator is actually pretty easy to yank on the X. The OEM alternator is a Bosch, same as what I replaced it with (it just didn't have the fancy BMW sticker)

Thanks for all the input from everyone.

[MPDano]

Originally Posted by generx

Not too worried about the labor cost since the alternator is actually pretty easy to yank on the X. The OEM alternator is a Bosch, same as what I replaced it with (it just didn't have the fancy BMW sticker)

Thanks for all the input from everyone.

What year is your X? I gotta yank mine again tonight and my Alternator is under 2 months old after a fresh rebuild. Not sure why yours is so easy to pull out. Mine was a pain in the %$#.

[generx]

Mine is an 03, see my DIY, pretty straighforward to do.

[Zoomie]

3.0 liter engine alternator are pretty straight forward - 4.4i alternator are liquid cooled and more of a PITA, AFAIK.

[MPDano]

Yeah, followed your DIY the initial pull. Pain the ^%$ is having to remove the Fan and Shroud. It is not the easiest thing to do. Ah the good old Carburetor days.

[generx]

UPDATE:

Brought the X to my indy earlier in the week and did diagnostics, everything did point back to the alternator (likely the voltage regulator) Maybe the battery was going bad and the regulator more than likely burned itself up, or was defective out of the box.

Either way, I swapped out the alternator for a new one (lifetime warranty) and everything now seems okay, knock on wood.

[faz]

Originally Posted by generx

UPDATE:

Brought the X to my indy earlier in the week and did diagnostics, everything did point back to the alternator (likely the voltage regulator) Maybe the battery was going bad and the regulator more than likely burned itself up, or was defective out of the box.

Either way, I swapped out the alternator for a new one (lifetime warranty) and everything now seems okay, knock on wood.

Thanks for the update. Hope all works out.

[Bill K]

Do you still have the original bosch alternator that went bad? I'd love to buy it from you so I can strip it down to see how well it is made. Please let me know if you have it and are willing to sell it to me. Thanks.

[MPDano]

Originally Posted by generx

UPDATE:

Brought the X to my indy earlier in the week and did diagnostics, everything did point back to the alternator (likely the voltage regulator) Maybe the battery was going bad and the regulator more than likely burned itself up, or was defective out of the box.

Either way, I swapped out the alternator for a new one (lifetime warranty) and everything now seems okay, knock on wood.

Where did you buy your new one and how much did it cost?